Electrotherapeutic apparatus



Aug. 20, 1929. M. WOLF 1,725,555

ELEGTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1927 I INVENTOR ATTORNEYPatented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,725,555 PATENT OFFICE.

MAX WOLF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO FRED W. GORDON, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

Application filed April 22, 1927. Serial No. 185,745.

The invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus involving an electricalgenerator and a plurality of electrodes, usually carried by a pad whichis adapted to be applied to the body of a patient in subjecting him to'the electrical treatment.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovenature wherein the electrical energy will be applied selectively orsuccessively to the several electrodes,

which I have found to be of marked advantage in certain treatments, forexample, when a pad as above described is applied to the abdomen of apatient, the successive energization of the electrodes serving tostimulate successively diiferent sections of the intestines.

When used in conjunction with an apparatus producing sinusoidal waves incurrent,

the invention also aims to change circuit from one electrode to anotherwhen the current wave is substantially at a minimum in order to avoidpain or discomfort to the patient.

The invention also includes a circuit changing device by the use ofwhich electro-therapeutic apparatus of now existing construction may bereadily and simply modified to operate in accordance with the invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obviousand in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinaftercontained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Such embodiment, however, should be considered as merely illustrative ofits principles. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a central horizontal sectionthrough the housing of one part of an electrical generator of a nowexisting type, but modified in construction to operate in accordancewith the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, and also showing a form of pad in connection with which theinvention is adapted to be used.

The invention is disclosed as applied to an electrical generator of aknown type shown, for example, in a patent to Chapman No. 1,525,268,dated February 3, 1925, and therefore the construction of the generatoras a whole will not be described in detail herein. I have shown in theannexed drawings only so much of an apparatus of the above type asincludes a cam 1 (corresponding to member 49 of the patent) supportedupon a spindle 2 (corresponding to member 47 of the patent) it beingunderstood that the cam rotates constantly during the operation of theenerator and in synchronism with the smusoidal waves. Substantially thesame construct-ion is shown in an earlier patent to Chapman, #1,268,545.Therefore, where in the specification or claims I use the expressionsinusoidal as applied to a current or wave, I mean a surging orcyclically varying current or Wave, as described in said last mentionedpatent.

An apparatus of the above nature is frequently used in connection withone or more pads 5 (Fig. 3) adapted to be applied to the abdomen of thepatient and having .a plurality of electrodes 6, 7, 8 and 9, whichheretofore have been simultaneously energized during treatment. I havefound, however, as above stated, that particularly in abdominaltreatments, a markedly superior effect is obtained if the electrodes beselectively or successively energized. As shown, the cam 1 is supportedwithin a housing 3 having a door 4, and the electrodes are respectivelyconnected by conductors 10, 11, 12 and 13, to a series of contacts 14,15, 16 and 17 which latter are carried by an insulating base block 18mounted on door 4. A switch arm 19 is rotatably carried by an insulatingspindle 20 which projects through the door 4 and has mounted on itsinner end, a star-wheel or other intermittent motion device 21, whichlatter is periodically engaged by a pin 22 or cam 1. Thus as the camrotates during the operation of the generator the switch arm 19 isperiodically moved around to engage successively the contacts 14, 15, 16and 17, thereby successively energizing electrodes 6 to 9 which willconstitute what are termed the active electrodes in the treatment of apatient.

Furthermore, since the rotation of cam 1 is synchronous with thesinusoidal waves produced by an electrical generator of the type abovereferred to, the circuit from one electrode to another may be shifted ata time when the electric wave is at or near its minimum, therebyavoiding pain to the patient which would be caused by changing thecircuit connectionsto electrodes at higher potentials. In theillustrated form of apparatus, for example, to shift circuit when thewave is at a minimum, it is only necessary that the pin 22 beso'positioned on cam 1 as to engage the arms of star-wheel 21 when themagnets and coils of the generator are spaced apart substantially themaximum distance. The switch arm 19 will be connected by con ductor 23to one of the terminals of the generator.-

i The illustrated type of switching mechanism may be very easilyconnected to apparatus of existing types, since all of the parts (withthe exception of pin 22) necessary to enable the apparatus to operate inaccordance with the invention, may be mounted upon the door 4 of housing3. As shown the switching mechanism is enclosed by a suitable shell 24.

Vhile a specific apparatus has been described above, it will be obviousthat many changes may be made therein without departing from theessentials oi. the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a dynamo-electricgenerator, one or more pads carrying a plurality of electrodes andadapted to be applied to the body of a patient, a switching mechanismadapted to make'circuit selectively from the generator to saidelectrodes and automatic means mechanically connected with the genertorfor intermittently actuating said switching mechanism step by step. I V

2. An eleetro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a generator of thesinusoidal wave type, a plurality of electrodes adapted to be applied tothe body of a patient, and means operating synchronously with thegenerator for selectively changing the circuit to said electrodes fromthe generator at times when therewith for producing sinusoidal waves,'a

plurality of electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of a patient,and a switching mechanism actuated by the motion of said cami'or makingcircuit from the generator selectively to said electrodes at definitepoints in the sinusoidal wave.

4:. An electro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a generator having a camassociated therewith for producing sinusoidal waves, a housing for saidcam, a plurality of electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of apatient and a switching mechanism mounted on said housing and actuatedfrom said cam for making circuit selectively from the generator tosaidelectrodes at definite points in the sinusoidal wave.

5. An electro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a generator having amoving parts associated therewith adapted to cooperate in the productionof sinusoidal waves, a plurality of electrodes adapted to be applied tothe body of a patient, and a switching mechanism actuated intermittentlyfrom said moving part for shifting circuit selectively from thegenerator to the several electrodes when the electrical wave is near aminimum.

6. An electro-therapeutic apparatus comprising a generator ofthesinusoidal wave type, a plurality of electrodes adapted to be appliedto the body of a patient, and switching means driven by said generatorfor selectively connecting said electrodes with the generator at certaindefinite points in said sinusoidal wave.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 11th day of April, 1927.

MAX WOLF.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,725,555; Granted August 20, 1929, to

MAX WOLF.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,line 89, strike out the reference character before the word "mounted"and insert instead "18", and line 94, for the word "or" read "on"; andthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of Octeber, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,725,555; Granted August 20, 1929, to

MAX WOLF.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,line 89, strike out the reference character before the word "mounted"and insert instead "18", and line 94, for the word "or" read "on"; andthe said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of ()cteber, A. I). 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) 7 Acting Commissioner of Patents.

